Northampton Saints prop Alex Waller said Northampton’s ability to ‘put their game’ on Leicester helped guide them to a 40-17 win. 

The Saints found themselves 10-6 down at half-time, but an inspired second-half performance saw them run away 40-17 victors in the East Midlands derby.

Speaking to the media after the game, Waller detailed what changes they made at half-time which guided them to victory: “In a nutshell, we said that we hadn’t thrown a punch yet. We sat on our heels a little bit.

He added: “Going in at half time 10-6, four points in the game; we were pretty confident in that situation. We can back our game and come back from that. In that opening five or ten minutes of the second half, we really put our game on them and turned the tide a little bit.”

Leicester still competed hard in the second-half, and despite the Saints’ fast start clawed their way back to just a point behind. Whilst this could have dented Northampton’s confidence, Waller said he still felt his team were going to win the game at that point.

“Not underestimating Leicester or taking anything away from them, I just felt that we turned a corner at that half-time in the way that we’re putting our game on them. The way our set-piece, our scrum especially, was operating, I think we were pretty confident in the way that we could set a platform and carry on going.

“I think that’s the major difference”-Alex Waller on the belief in the squad

This latest victory is Northampton’s ninth in their last 10 games in all competitions. This glorious run of form has seen the skyrocket up the Premiership table, and also qualify for a Champions Cup semi-final.

Whilst they still need to see out the final few games, Waller said there is a definite feeling of belief within the squad.

“The confidence within this squad, I think that’s the major difference form the last two or three seasons,” he said.

He added: “I think the skill has been there and the talent within the group, but the belief to come back from tight games or come from behind or pull away in games is the difference this year and a long may it continue.”

The Saints now have to navigate tough fixtures against Harlequins, Gloucester and Bath as well as a tough European semi-final against Leinster, but they are still firmly in the hunt for silverware.